Best Over-Ear Headphones Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds can completely surround the ears. They also have bigger drivers that provide deeper bass and a wider soundstage. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology. beats studio 3 wireless bluetooth noise cancelling headphones & Dynamic MW65 has been upgraded with improved audio and various ANC modes and a huge battery life. 1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Sony has improved on an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed, and have a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also come with an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancellation works better than it did before, eliminating any background noise. Additionally, they have a longer continuous battery life than many competitors. These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible equipment and a streaming service. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch between them if needed. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly. One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond faster to the tap of a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voice calls clearer and more precise during calls. This is an obvious and pleasant addition. The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones we've ever test. They're comfortable, well-made, and have batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used as a passive device by using an TRS cable. This is great for traveling or conserving power. The WH1000XM4s offer a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more background noise. They also come with a companion app that lets you alter their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than B&W's. The B&Ws are built better and can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine that tries to scale compressed music up to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless audio files. 2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the latest version of a headset that is a popular choice among commuters and passengers all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that was the basis of its predecessor's success with the addition of the USB-C port and improved noise cancellation. These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, constructed of plastic, provides a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. They also have the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you extend or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that can be worn over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can wear them while wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancelling function works even when they are not on your head. Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones however, the QC45s don't provide the best sound at this price. The frequencies are flat and lack the depth that headphones with higher prices might be able to bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is acceptable for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is great, but it lacks power. One thing that's not included is the ability to pause playback when you take the headset off. This is a standard feature in this price bracket and is something that Bose's rivals have offered for a long time. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings in the app however it would be nice to have a manual control. You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and voice assistant settings. The QC45s come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The call quality is generally excellent, but the headsets don't have the nifty ability to mute your voice during playback, which is a feature that other wireless headphones have. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware upgrade to the QC45s gave you manual EQ options within the audio app which is a welcome improvement. 3. Focal Bathys Wireless Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their comfort and style which tell listeners that they're hearing something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, making them suitable both for wired and wireless listening. Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We actually got a little more from them with more than 40 hours on average of a single charge. If you need to charge your headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will change red. They have a decent amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price with support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to manually select your source device each time you need to listen). The headphones have a built in microphone that can be used with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls. Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by 9 decibels on average. It's not as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, however it's still fairly effective. The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was mostly similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor variations on the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem unreal. They also have very good leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them out in public without worrying about other people listening to your music. Their mic is passable for recording using Bluetooth with only a slight distortion between the mid-treble as well as the treble. 4. Sennheiser Momentum 4 The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headsets. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout into the category. The new model is a significant improvement over the previous generation, with an elegant design, enhanced gesture control, and a huge battery life. The changes are subtle but add up to an over-ear pair of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them while traveling. The Momentum 4s are also device-agnostic, like many other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, such as those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They can be used with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio. The most notable difference is the massive battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than double the amount of the competitors and sufficient to take a multi-day journey without having to search for an outlet. Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating, citing their audio quality and ANC as particular strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble, which means that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well rounded however it can be too loud, which can cause fatigue in songs that have strong bass lines, such as the drum hits of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full and there's no feeling of depth in the bass. The Momentum 4s are comfortable and shouldn't put too much pressure on your neck or ears. However they can be a bit difficult to wear around the house or during longer listening sessions, and can move around on your head with intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random, which can be distracting when you are listening to music or calls. Fortunately, they stop working after 15 minutes of slumber by default, and can be turned off manually off with the power button.
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